Chapter XVIII.—The
Persecution which occurred at Antioch, on the Orontes. The Place of
Prayer in Edessa, called after the Apostle Thomas; the Assembly there,
and Confession of the Inhabitants of Edessa.

The emperor went to Antioch,
and entirely ejected from the churches of that city and of the
neighboring cities all those who adhered to the Nicene doctrines;14611461 Ruf. ii. 5; Soc. iv. 17, 18. Soz. resembles Soc. in
both incidents. Soc. resembles Ruf. in the Edessa story; neither
mention the prefect’s name, as does Soz. Philost. ix. 11;
Theodoret, H. E. iv. 17.
moreover, he oppressed them with manifold punishments; as some affirm,
he commanded many to be put to death in various ways, and caused others
to be cast into the river Orontes. Having heard that there was a
magnificent oratory at Edessa, named after 357the Apostle Thomas, he went to see it. He
beheld the members of the Catholic Church assembled for worship in the
plain before the walls of the city; for there, too, they had been
deprived of their houses of prayer. It is said that the emperor
reproached the prefect thoroughly and struck him on the jaw with his
fist for having permitted these congregations contrary to his edict.
Modestus (for this was the name of the prefect), although he was
himself a heretic, secretly warned the people of Edessa not to meet for
prayer on the accustomed spot the next day; for he had received orders
from the emperor to punish all who should be seized. He uttered such
threats with the forethought that none, or at least but a few, would
incur danger, and with the desire to appease the wrath of the monarch.
But the people of Edessa, totally disregarding the threat, ran together
with more than their customary zeal, and filled the usual place of
meeting.

Modestus, on being apprised of their proceedings, was
undecided as to what measures ought to be adopted, and repaired in
embarrassment to the plain with the throng. A woman, leading a child by
the hand, and trailing her mantle in a way unbefitting the decency of
women, forced her way through the files of the soldiers who were
conducted by the prefect, as if bent upon some affair of importance.
Modestus remarked her conduct, ordered her to be arrested, and summoned
her into his presence, to inquire the cause of her running. She replied
that she was hastening to the plain where the members of the Catholic
Church were assembled. “Know you not,” replied Modestus,
“that the prefect is on his way thither for the purpose of
condemning to death all who are found on the spot?” “I have
heard so,” replied she, “and this is the very reason of my
haste; for I am fearful of arriving too late, and thus losing the honor
of martyrdom for God.” The governor having asked her why she took
her child with her, she replied, “In order that he may share in
the common suffering, and participate in the same reward.”
Modestus, struck with astonishment at the courage of this woman, went
to the emperor, and, acquainting him with what had occurred, persuaded
him not to carry out a design which he showed to be disgraceful and
disastrous. Thus was the Christian faith confessed by the whole city of
Edessa.